- By Paul Adams and Megan Fisher
- BBC News in Kiev, Ukraine and London
September 13, 2023, 05:21 BST
Updated 5 minutes ago
Image source: Mikhail Razvozhayev
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A photo shared on Telegram by the Russian-appointed governor showed flames seemingly engulfing a ship
Russia said Ukraine fired 10 missiles and three unmanned boats in an attack on its Black Sea Fleet’s homeland in Crimea.
According to Russia, the attack caused a major fire at a shipyard in Sevastopol, injuring 24 people.
Moscow-appointed governor Mikhail Razvoshayev claimed that most of the weapons had been intercepted.
Russia said two of its ships were damaged by cruise missile impacts.
A photo shared by Mr Razvozhayev on Telegram shows flames seemingly engulfing a ship in a port as he speaks into his phone.
It is believed to be an area where ships were repaired. Ukrainian military intelligence sources report that a large Russian amphibious landing ship and a submarine, both believed to be in dry dock, were damaged. If both were hit, it would be one of Ukraine’s most significant attacks on the Black Sea Fleet to date.
Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk warned that more would happen.
Images circulating on social media, which the BBC has not yet verified, show several large explosions in the area.
The fact that some missiles penetrated Russian air defenses and appeared to have caused significant damage will be a matter of great concern in Moscow.
According to the country’s Defense Ministry, seven of the missiles were shot down and all three unmanned boats were destroyed.
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The morning after the attack on a shipyard in Sevastopol, smoke hung in the air
Russia illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and this attack highlights the struggle for control of the waters. Ukraine has always stuck to its ultimate goal of retaking the peninsula.
Ukraine has already attacked Sevastopol and the Black Sea Fleet, but questions remain about what weapons were used in this attack. Western-supplied long-range missiles were proposed, but Ukrainian-made Neptune missiles could also have been used.
Meanwhile, Russian drones reportedly damaged the Ukrainian grain port of Ismail on the Danube.
Odessa region governor Oleh Kiper said six people were injured in the attack, which caused a fire and damaged infrastructure.
“Several groups of drones were fired at Izmail district,” Mr. Kiper said on Telegram.
“Unfortunately there were hits: damage was recorded to the port and other civilian infrastructure.”